Section door



Septo 22, 1931. Q K|NG ET AL SECTION DOOR Filed Aug. 5I 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l 7//" wim/EN TORS ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 22, 1931 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE GRAHAM KING, F SOUTH ORANGE, .AND FRANK A. CWARD, OF BIDGEWOOD, NEW

JERSEY, ASSIGNOBS T0 TRUSCON STEEL COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A. COB- I PORATION 0F MICHIGAN SEC'IION DOOR Application led August 5, 1926. Serial No. 127,407.

This invention relates to doors and articularly to section doors in which varlous sections are opened successively.

It has among its objects the production of a section door in which two sections may be successively displaced as a result of related movements of the two ends of a flexible member which is under tension throughout its length during the door opening operation. One end of the iiexible member is fastened to the lower section and passes over a sheave which isunder the control of a differential. The other end of the flexible member is fastened to the lower portion of the upper section and passes over a sheave which 1s under the control of the same differential. As a part of the invention and inter-related therewith there resides the object of providing a section door and controlling mechanism which will operate to return the upper or pivoted section to its closed position prior to permitting the lower section to descend to its closed position.

Other and more detailed objects will appear hereinafter in the following description and claims and an embodiment of our invention is illustrated in the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an inside elevation of the door I and its operating mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the door and mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view of the right end of the door as seen on line III-III of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view of the part of the door and mechanism illustrated in Fig. 3 and with the door fully opened.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the difierentia Figs. 6 and 7 are details on lines VI--VI and VII-VII respectively ofFig. 3.

Fig. 8 isA an enlarged view of the connection of the end of the flexible member with the.

lower section.

The door comprises two sectlons--a lower section 10 and an upper section 11the upper section being ivotally supported by hinges 12 extending rom the top member 13 of the door frame. When the door is closed the lower' section is maintained in an upright position by reason of the engagement of its edges by channels 14 and 15. These channels extend from and are supported by the sides 16 of the door frame, as may be seen in Figs. 4 and 6.

Mounted upon and extendin from the edges of the upper section 11, F lgs. 1, 3 and 7, are angle-irons 17 and 18, one on each vertical edge. The angle-iron 18 on the righthand edge forms a channel which is in alignment with channel when the door is closed, and angle-iron 17 on the left-hand edge likewise forms a channel which is in alignment with channel 14 under similar conditions. When the lower section 10 is in its lowest position, the upper section cannot be displaced because the side edges of the lower section engage at the same time the two pairs of channels 14, 15, and those channels formed by angle-irons 17 and 18. This locked condi.-v

tion will exist as long as the lower section engages channels 14 and 15. In large or heavy doors it is found convenient in most @sesto control the operation of the door by aifplurality of chains or flexible members as is the case in the door illustrated in the drawings.

Owing to their duplication in function and positions of respective rtions onl one of the flexible members wi be referre to pan ticularly. As seen in Fig. 3, one end of flexible member 20 is secured to the lower section in a convenient manner as by means of a connection formed by a bolt 21 e agin with a clevis or braclzet 22, Fig. 8. n a justment of the length of the chain may be made at this point by changing the position of nut 23 in Arespect to the bolt when a change in length ofthe chain is desired.

Flexible member 20 passes over sprocketwheel or sheave 25, which is mounted upon shaft 24, and is then guided by sheave 26 from whence it extends downwardly and supports a weighted object such a counterpoise 27 and sheave 28. From sheave 28 it extends over sheave 29, which is secured to the side frame of the door opening, and then over sheave 3() extending from an angle-iron guide-member on the upper section. From sheave 30, the flexible member passes over s rocket-wheel or sheave 31, mounted upon s aft 32, and thence over sheave 33 and down to ring 34 where it issecured to the lower portion of the upper section. As is readily understood, the preferable position of sheave 33 is such as to be over ring 34 when the upper section is in its fully open position, Fi 4.

Power is applied to shafts 24 an 32 so that each may be driven alone orboth may be driven at the same time, the rotations of the shafts being determined by the movability of the ends of the fiexible member. The device by which power is transmitted to these shafts will be described hereinafter.

For a door openin o eration, shaft 24 will be rotated counter-c oc wise, Fig. 3, and as the lower section 10 is bein raised the counterpoise 27 will descend an thereby account for the slack portion of the flexible member intermediate sheaves 26 and 29. The end of the flexible member secured to the upper section at 34 is held immobile as long as the side edges of the lower section engage channels 14, 15, and, accordingly, there is no` movement of the flexible member over sheave 33 during such engagement. However, after the lower section has passed from the restraining efforts of channels 14, 15, the end of flexible member 20 at 34 is free to move, and, for the same reason, shaft 32 and s rocket-wheel 31 is capable of being rotate counter-clockwise, F1 3, At about this time, the lower section wi be prevented from rising higher b reason ofthe engagement of the upper e ge of the lower section with a bar 35 near to the upper ed e of the upper section or else be-v cause of t e coaction of other means capable of accomplishing the same result.

By reason of the fact that that portion of flexible member 20 between sprocket-wheel 31 and the counterpoise 27 must travel under sheave 30 on the upper section and over sheave 29 on the door frame, the upperk sec` tion will be maintained closed by the co nterpoise until the lower section is completely raised and the direct vertical movement of the end of the flexible member secured to bracket 22 is terminated. With the lower section fully raised, the end of flexible memwhen the upper section has left its closed position, we provide pinand hole connections, one of which may be seen in Fig. 7. This pin vand hole connection comprises a pin 37 mounted to slide through a hole in the bridge portion of a staple 38 which is secured to angle-iron member 18. A compression spring 39 mounted upon the pin serves1 to urge it through the hole in the angle-iron member and cause it to engage a hole 40 in the lower section when the uplper section starts to swing on its hinges. or maintaining the pin 37 away from section 10 and from engagement with hole 40 when the upper section is in its closed position, Fi s. 3 and 7, there is fastened to the pin a brac et 41 carrying a `bolt or adjusting screw 42. The adjusting screw is so positioned in respect to the bracket as to contact the side frame 16 of the door opening when the upper section is closed. This locking mechanism is automatic in its locking and unlocking operations and the security of the xed relation of the two sections is assured during all of the time that the upper section is dis placed from its closed position.

During a closing movement of the door, shafts 25 and 32 will be rotated clockwise. As is readily understood, the pull that the counterpoise exerts on sheaves 30 will help to bring the upper section. to its closed position notwithstandin the effect of outside agencies such as win s acting thereon. With the upper section completely closed, pin 37 on section 11 will not be in engagement with hole 40 in section 10 and section 10 is capable of being permitted to descend to its closed position. Rollers 42 disposed at the upper ends of channels 14, 15 are designed to lessen wear and to-assist the introduction ofthe' edges of section 11 into the upper ends of the channels.

For transmitting power to shafts 25 and 32 we utilize differential mechanism conveni-4 ently placed. to one side ofthe door. As best shown in Fig. 5, the .differential mechanism comprises a shaft 43 suitably mounted in bearings on a bracket 44. Loosely mounted upon shaft 43 is the arm member 45 which has a worm wheel 46. This worm wheel is en aged by a worm 47 on shaft 48 which is a apted to be rotated by a hand chain 49 through a sprocket-wheel 50. A pair of bevel gears 5l, 51 are in continuous engagement with ears 52 and 53. Gear 52 is loosely mounte to a. hub carrying sprocket-wheel 54. The

on shaft 43 and is fixed rotary movement of this sprocket-wheel is communicated to shaft 32 by a chain 55 and sprocket-wheel 56 secured to the shaft. Gear 53 is fixed to shaft 43 and the rotary movement of the shaft is communicated to shaft 24 b sprocket-wheel 57, chain 58 and sproc et-wheel 59 secured to shaft 24. The operating mechanism just described per mits a continuity of motion of the two sections of the door during opening and closing operations, for, as is readily understood, shafts 24 and32 may be rotated at the same or varying speeds. `Shafts 24 and 32 may extend across the top of the door opening and as many Hexible members may be controlled thereby as is found desirable. We have described the operation of one of these Vflexible members and any other flexible member to be used therewith should be of similar design.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects previously stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to oonfine the invention to the one form of embodi ment herein described, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms all coming 1within the the scope of the claims which fol- What we claim is 1. In a door of the class described, the combination comprising an upper section and a lower section, means for pivotally supporting said upper section, guide means for said lower section, flexible means secured to each of said sections, a plurality of sheaves for training said iiexible means, one of said sheaves being on the upper section and another of said sheaves being at the door opening substantially opposite the sheave on the upper section when the door isclosed a weight supported b a loop of said flexible means at the side 0 said last named sheave opposite the door, and differential means adapted to actuate portions of said flexible means at different speeds.

2. In a door of the class described, the combination comprising an u per section and a lower section, means for pivotally supporting said upper section, guide means for said lower section, flexible means having one end connected to said upper section and an-V other end connected to said lower` section, means for transmitting movement to the ends of said flexible means, a series of sheaves for training said fiexible means, said series of sheaves including a sheave on the upper section and a sheave adjacent a door opening substantially opposite the said sheave on the upper section when the door is closed and said flexible means having an intermediate portion'forminor a loop, and a counterpoise supported by the said loop of said flexible means whereby tension is exerted on the portion of said flexible means intermediate said sheave on the upper section and said sheave opposite thereto for continually urging the upper section against a door jamb.

3. In a door of the class described, the combination comprising an upper section and a lower section, means for pivotally supporting said upper section, guide means for said lower section, iexible means having one end connected to said upper section and another end' connected to said lower section, means adapted to displace the end portion of said iiexible means having connections with said lower section, means adapted to displace the end portion of saidflexible means having connections with said upper section, a plurality of sheaves for uiding the portion of said iiexible means intermediate said last two named means, one of said sheaves being mounted upon said upper section substantially opposite the sheave on the upper section when the door is closed, and another of. said sheaves being mounted alongside of said upper section, and counter oise means sup ported by a loop of said flexible means whereby the portion of said flexible means passing over said last named sheaves is maintained taut.

4. In a door of the class described, the combination comprising a hinged u per section and a lower section adapted to s ide into relation with said upper section, means for raising said lower section into coincidence with said upper section and for swinging both of said sections, said means including a iiexible member and a plurality of sheaves for training the same including a sheave mounted upon the upper section and a sheave mounted near to the door opening and opposite said sheave on the up er section when the door is closed, said flexible member hav\ ing opposite ends secured to the upper and lower sections respectivel and agloop portion intermediate its ends, an a weight supported by said loop portion whereby said upper sec- -tion is continuallyurged to a closed position against its door jamb. i

5. A door structure including an upper pivotally mounted section and a lower reciprocatory section that is movable to and from an elevated position overlying the upper section, a cable having an intermediate loop and having its ends secured respectively to the lower and upper door sections, separate operating pulleys engaged with the portions of the cable connected to the respective door sections for separately operating the same, a common actuating device having differential .mechanism connected to the pulleys, a counter-weight engaged with and l supported by the intermediate loop of the ca le, and a pulley mounted on the u per door section and about which one leg o the intermediate loop. passes to afford resistance to the swin ing movement of the u per door section whi e lifting draft is upon tliie end of cable attached to the lower door section.

6. A door structure including an upper movable section and a lower section movable to and from an overlapping position with respect to the upper section, an actuating cable mechanism having a section secured to the lower door section and another section fxedly connected to the lower portion of theupper door section; mechanism for creating first a draft on the cable section secured to the lower door section to raise the section to overlapping relation with the upper door section and thereafter causing an upward and outward draft on the cable section secured to the lower portion of the upper door section to raise both sections toget er, and means operated by the cable mechanism for resisting the movement of the upper section while the lower section is being individually operated.

In testimony whereof we hereto aix our signatures.

GRAHAM KING. FRANK A. HOWARD. 

